Durant, Thomas Clark definition of Durant, Thomas Clark in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

Durant, Thomas Clark, 1820–85, American railroad builder, chief figure in the construction of the Union Pacific RR, b. Lee, Mass. He was successful in building railroads in the Midwest, and, after the Union Pacific was organized (1862) by an act of Congress, John A. Dix Dix, John Adams, 1798–1879, American statesman, b. Boscawen, N.H. He served in the War of 1812, was later admitted to the bar, and practiced law in Cooperstown, N.Y. He held high state offices and served (1845–49) as Democratic U.S. senator from New York.
..... Click the link for more information. was elected president and Durant vice president of the company. The burden of management and money raising was assumed by Durant, and, with much money at his disposal, he helped to secure in 1864 the passage of a bill that increased the land grants and privileges of the railroad. He organized and at first controlled the Crédit Mobilier of America Crédit Mobilier of America (krĕ`dĭt mōbĭlyā`, krādē`)
..... Click the link for more information. , but later (1867) he lost control of the company to Oakes Ames Ames, Oakes, 1804–73, American manufacturer, railroad promoter, and politician, b. Easton, Mass. With his brother Oliver he managed the family's well-known shovel factory at Easton.
..... Click the link for more information. and his brother. Durant, however, continued on the directorate of the Union Pacific and furiously pushed construction of the railroad until it met the Central Pacific RR on May 10, 1869. The Ames group then procured his discharge.

Bibliography

See biography by H. K. Hochschild (1961).